Archive for May, 2007

Our favorite little Windows Mobile ODM-turned smartphone manufacturing powerhouse has a major announcement in the pipeline for this June 5th. We're not sure what the super-secret launch will be, but Smartphone Thoughts has it, on insider tips, that the new device from HTC will be based on the as-yet unannounced HTF Elf platform. Further speculation lends to the HTC Elf being endowed with the holiest of holy interface features these days - the multi-touch screen. An HTC Elf with multi-touch could indeed be an Apple iPhone "killer" as it will allow the same two-finger scrolling and zooming gestures while being released globally; while Apple's iPhone will be limited to a single carrier, US launch.

Keep you fingers crossed for some multi-touch action in the HTC Elf, come June 5!

via: smartphonethoughts

You've read this correctly — iPhone WILL support 3rd party apps. But don't expect the full openness as Symbian, Windows Mobile or Palm OS have — all apps will rather pass through some Apple's approval process.

In an interview with Walt Mossberg, Steve Jobs said: "This is an important tradeoff between security and openness. We want both. …we'll find a way to let 3rd parties write apps and still preserve security on the iPhone. But until we find that way we can't compromise the security of the phone. …I've used 3rd party apps… the more you add, the more your phone crashes. No one's perfect, and we'd sure like our phone not to crash once a day. If you can just be a little more patient with us I think everyone can get what they want." (via: engadget)

Hype around the Apple iPhone is like a never-ending storm of praise and criticism. The latest bit of praise comes from AT&T's COO, Randall Stephenson, as he is set to take over as CEO this Sunday - saying , "I don't know what your expectations are for the iPhone, but they're probably too low."

The CEO to-be, set to replace retiring CEO Ed Whitacre, also reiterated to Lehman Brothers analysts that the Apple iPhone garnered interest from over 1 million people in the US. Stephenson also mentioned that the upcoming FCC 700 Mhz wireless spectrum auction was prime frequency real-estate, but AT&T's current spectrum position was secure and comfortable and "There's no real sense of urgency for it."

via: cellularnews

The Apple iPhone launch has us all up in a tizzy, and we can't help but let you in on every little tidbit of news regarding the Apple iPhone. It looks like we're going to see a couple Japanese panel-makers sourcing the multi-touch display panels for the Apple iPhone. Speculation has AU Optronics and Innolux as the two possible main suppliers for the iPhone's panels, but DigiTimes is reporting that sources have indicated to them that two Japanese companies are likely to be the Apple iPhone multitouch display supplier - with a Taiwanese supplier as a secondary source. The Japanese panel makers have a leg up on Taiwanese fabrication plants, and that may be the edge that gives Japanese suppliers the contract for the Apple iPhone.

The Apple iPhone is also expected to make use of a low-temperature poly-silicon (TLPS) panel - allowing for more flexible circuit designs.

via: digitimes

GeekNuz spotted this guy playing with his iPhone at a local eatery in Silicon Valley (of course), over the weekend! That's right, he was playing with his very own iPhone - in the open! The guy in the picture was confirmed as an Apple employee and was talking it up with his dining companion as to why the iPhone is so great. This intrepid camera-phone-man from GeekNuz was able to snap some sly cameraphone pictures from the next table over - but not before he chatted up the Apple employee about why Apple should allow third-party development on the iPhone. (as expected, the employee confirmed that Apple is not allowing third-party development at this time).

Check the link for the full-sized spy pictures.

via: geeknuz

The Apple iPhone is imminent, and so are the massive shipments of iPhones that Apple will need to cover the demand. Foxconn (Han Hai Precision Industry) has already locked down the Apple iPhone manufacturing contract for the initial launch window, but it's hard to imagine that a single component integrator can handle the global iPhone demand. According to the Chinese-language Commercial Times, Foxconn will be getting some iPhone manufacturing backup from Quanta. Apple has allegedly awarded the second manufacturing contract to Quanta and has already placed a 5 million unit order, due for a September 2007 shipment.

Looks like Apple is making sure that they can meet not only the global demand, but their global sales goal for the iPhone!

via: digitimes

A Channel Checkers survey reveals that the official AT&T policy on prohibiting Apple iPhone pre-orders is not being upheld by AT&T (Cingular) stores. Out of 36 stores surveyed, approximately 64% of store representatives are quietly taking down a waiting list for the upcoming Apple iPhone. It should be noted that 36% of stores reported that they will be pushing the iPhone on a "first come, first serve" basis. Stores with waiting lists reported an average of 25 people in the queue.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that most AT&T stores are now taking down pre-orders against oficial company policy - this is the hottest launch in recent memory, and as such, we can expect a flood of demand. Still, if the iPod mini can teach us anything, the Apple Store may be the best and easiest bet to find the Apple iPhone in-stock on launch day.

via: arstechnica

It's hard to justify the fourth post about the null release date. Still, if everything goes well, Apple may push the whole handset industry forward and that's something to look forward to. So here goes…

According to CNBC "On the Money" report, Apple iPhone will be "in stores" on June 20. Apparently, staff sales/support training ends on that date, giving more credibility to the story. The AT&T iPhone crew may not get a single day of rest between the end of training and the release date, but hey, they will be among the first one to test the Apple's flagship device. Now, let's just hope Apple will meet this deadline and release the iPhone on time. (via: macrumors)

We still wait to see the first iPhone released, and the first tidbits of information are slowly appearing on the Web about the second generation. Apparently, the next iPhone will debut in spring 2008 at MacWorld, and will come with a built-in GPS.

For the future iPhone, Apple will most likely use Assisted GPS technology, which makes determining of the current location much faster, especially in urban areas where tall buildings can disturb the signal. Furthermore, when the GPS-enabled iPhone hits the daylight, I bet it will run the latest version of Google Maps with GPS support. Hopefully, by then Apple will also add a 3G radio on it. (via: navigadget)

Following its tradition, PC World named the top 20 products of the year, including innovative web applications, powerful processors, spectacular HDTVs, and creative game consoles. What's interesting for us is that the iPhone was not on the list. It's kind an understandable decision, as no one tested it yet — at least no one from the media. However, PC World editors decided to put RIM's baby, BlackBerry 8800, on the list. Personally, I prefer the new Curve…

Verizon, like a vengeful rival, is planning to fight AT&T's Apple iPhone release with their very own iPhone killer. Late this summer, as if trying to make up for the fact they turned down Steve Jobs and Apple as the first choice for iPhone exclusivity (they apparently didn't like Apple's demands for control of distribution, pricing, marketing, and more), Verizon is going to release their own "gotta-have-it" phone.

Verizon Wireless VP, Jim Grace, says that, "We said no [to the iPhone offer]. We have nothing bad to say about the Apple iPhone. We just couldn't reach a deal that was mutually beneficial." Grace says that Verizon has no regrets about turning down the iPhone, but "Time will tell" if they made the right decision. Denny Stigl, Verizon COO, hints that Verizon has the upper hand here, due to the iPhone being locked into Cingular's inferior network for five years, adding, "The issue is not the Apple-ness of the iPhone itself, but with the cellular network that it is running on…That will be the true test of the iPhone: What will the iPhone experience be?"

Stigl told USA Today that the wireless operator doesn't plan to sit back and watch the iPhone hype take over the industry - confirming that Verizon is working with a manufacturer to get an iPhone competitor to market soon. Stigl asserts that, "We do have a very good response in the mill," and that, "You'll see that from us in the late summer."

We're going to have a good time watching these two giants (AT&T and Verizon) battle it out over the summer!

via: usatoday

Over at FastCompany.com, Saabira Chaudhuri prepared an interesting article arguing why Apple will not repeat its iPod success with the iPhone.

The in-depth article starts with a brief history of Apple, and then goes through the iPod's main features — the ones that made it the single best selling portable music player on the planet. According to Chris Breen, Senior Director of MacWorld magazine: "Apple was the first company to do it right."

The question afterwards is logical - can iPhone even come close? Pro arguments include relying on Apple's fan base, but also on other people who are unsatisfied with their current handsets (and there are many of them), and are looking for alternatives. On the contra side, there's always the price bundled with an expensive AT&T's contract, as well as the change of game for the Cupertino-based company. Playing with carriers is not an easy task, and there are so many players on the market today, that it's quite hard to get your place under the sun. Still, Apple's shot could disturb the handset maker's high-end device sales.

The bottom line is that iPhone can't come even close to the iPod's numbers. The problem is that iPod set an impossibly high bar — but the iPhone could still be very successful, particularly in the long term… The whole story is available from here. (photo taken from labusabilidad)

If you're not into all the iPhone rush, and just want to wait for Apple to release a CDMA version of its flagship product, forget about it. USAToday writes that Cingular/AT&T has a 5-year long exclusive agreement with the Cupertino-based company. Furthermore, Apple is committed NOT to develop a CDMA based handset in that period. To put it in other words, there will be NO iPhone offered on any other carrier till 2012. That's a way too long time to wait for any handset, including the iPhone…

In the meantime, other carriers are busting their balls off to make a compelling offer for people who like the features of the iPhone but just can't afford one. In that sense Verizon promises to bring its "iPhone killer" this summer. Stay tuned people, the interesting times are ahead of us. (via: Engadget)

We knew we'd get more details as the launch-date of the Apple iPhone drew closer, but we never expected news like this! Boy Genius Report posted some screenshots of AT&T's accounting system. Usually, accounting systems are bland and boring, but a quick look at the screenshots show three account codes for different iPhone sales-types. We see Postpaid, Prepaid, and Hybrid options. Postpaid indicates the expected 2-year sentence agreement, while the prepaid option gives users the flexibility of a prepaid plan, but without the benefit of any carrier subsidy or rebate. Hybrid plans let you "Get the best of wireless without long-term contracts or unexpected bills. With Pick Your Plan, you establish monthly automatic payments for service and use the balance on your account for voice minutes or other features. It's that easy."

We expected the standard 2-year contract option, but the Prepaid and Hybrid options are really exciting. Most of all, however, is the fact that the option of Prepaid and Hybrid plans basically invalidates the assumption that the Apple iPhone will lock you into a long-term contract without rebate or subsidy. It just doesn't make sense for AT&T to offer the Apple iPhone on the same $499/$599 price schedule for Contract, Prepaid, and Hybrid plans (who would get the iPhone with a contract if they could just go with Prepaid or Hybrid?).

via:: macrumors

The Apple iPhone is one of the largest product launches in history, and as such, AT&T is rushing to ensure that all the street-cred goes to AT&T instead of Cingular. Reuters reports that the telco giant is stepping up efforts to rebrand its Cingular wireless stores as AT&T - with plans to replace Cingular signs with AT&T-branded signs on the interiors of 1,800 stores today. Exterior branding will take more time (up to a year) to change over to the AT&T name, as dismantling of an established brand such as Cingular will be a delicate matter.

AT&T spokesman, Michael Coe, says, "The iPhone is one of the most anticipated handsets ever in the wireless industry, and we want to make sure that every drop of equity from the iPhone accrues to the AT&T brand," and that, "We want to be as far along as possible with our rebranding in advance of the launch of the iPhone."

Look for the new interior branding in your local Cingular store today! We have a feeling it's going to be somewhat of a confusing consumer experience.

via: reuters